SigAlert issued on 5 Freeway near Castaic; crews control brush fire

Firefighters gained the upper hand Tuesday afternoon in their efforts to stop a brush fire near the 5 Freeway north of Castaic, but a Sigalert was issued and expected to last several hours, officials said.

Crews on the ground were aided by an aggressive air attack that included three water-dropping helicopters and at least two air tankers, fire officials said. The blaze had burned about 25 acres.

“It’s looking really good right now,� Angeles National Forest spokesman Nathan Judy told The Times. “We pretty much have it under control.�

The California Highway Patrol said two lanes were shut down for fire personnel and apparatus and that a SigAlert had been issued for the busy northbound freeway near Templin Highway.

Firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service and Los Angeles County Fire Department were battling the blaze. It may have been sparked by bales of hay that caught fire on the back of a truck, officials said.

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